Do you struggle to breathe while sleeping? If you awake at night feeling short of breath or unable to breathe, you may already have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a persistent, debilitating, and possibly life-shortening sleep disorder that’s estimated to affect over 22 million Americans. Most patients with sleep apnea don’t even realize they have a problem. But if left untreated, the disorder can lead to depression, heart disease, diabetes, and chronic daytime fatigue. If you suspect that you may be suffering from sleep apnea, schedule the sleep apnea therapy appointment you need with Dr. Donnelly at San Marcos Gentle Dental today. Dr. Donnelly is a trusted San Marcos family dentist, now delivering quality care daily throughout San Marcos, TX, Kyle, Wimberley, New Braunfels, and the surrounding communities.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is actually an involuntary stoppage of breath while sleeping. There are three categories of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and a combination of the two. Of these three types, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. Despite the difference in causes of each type, with all three, breathing stops repeatedly during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times per night, often for a minute or longer. Since these pauses rarely trigger a full awakening, most patients fail to realize what’s happening.
Do You Have Sleep Apnea?
Although all patients with sleep apnea also have a snoring problem, most people who snore don’t have obstructive sleep apnea. You may have sleep apnea if:
- You suffer from loud and persistent snoring
- You experience pauses in breathing, accompanied by gasping episodes while trying to sleep
- You are excessively sleepy during normal waking hours
Dr. Donnelly Offers Snore Guard Therapy to Treat Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Snore guards look similar to the athletic mouth guards worn by ball players. Dr. Donnelly can prescribe custom fabricated snore guards to eradicate your sleep apnea and snoring symptoms. The appliance can be worn in the mouth during sleep, and works by re-positioning the lower jaw slightly forward of its natural rest position. This small change is typically enough to keep your airway open as you sleep, thus eliminating snoring problems and associated sleep apnea symptoms.
San Marcos Sleep Apnea Therapy Appointments
If you’re looking for a reliable sleep disorder solution, schedule a sleep apnea therapy appointment with Dr. Donnelly at San Marcos Gentle Dental today. Dr. Donnelly is a leading San Marcos family dentist, now proudly serving patients daily throughout San Marcos, TX, Kyle, Wimberley, New Braunfels, and neighboring areas.